Overview
This section provides an exception to the standard notification requirements for changes to AbilityOne product or service specifications when such changes are necessitated by emergency needs.
Key Rules
- Notification Waiver: Contracting officers are not required to follow standard notification procedures for AbilityOne specification or description changes during emergencies.
- Emergency Context: The exemption only applies when the modification is specifically required to meet an immediate emergency need.
- Cross-Reference: This rule aligns with and points to FAR 8.712(d), which outlines the broader relationship between the government and AbilityOne regarding specification adjustments.
Practical Implications
- Operational Speed: Contracting officers can expedite procurement actions during a crisis or disaster without the administrative delay of formal notification to the AbilityOne Committee.
- Flexibility: Allows for the rapid substitution or modification of supplies and services to ensure mission-critical requirements are met when time is of the essence.